Alleged billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, alias Evans, has hired a new lawyer, following the withdrawal of his original counsel, Olukoya Ogungbeje.

The new lawyer, Noel Brown, announced appearance for Evans and one of his co-defendants, Ogechi Uchechukwu, at their resumed trial before Justice Hakeem Oshodi at the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja.

Evans and Uchechukwu are standing trial alongside Uche Amadi, Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi and Victor Aduba for allegedly kidnapping Managing Director of Maydon Pharmaceuticals, Donatus Dunu.

During proceedings, it was revealed that Ogungbeje had written to the court requesting that the judge should order the Lagos State Commissioner of Police to provide security for him during his appearance in court.

Reacting to the letter, Justice Hakeem Oshodi said this was an abuse, saying the court cannot order the Police Commissioner to protect him, asking all the defence counsel if they had received threats for defending their clients during the course of the trial.

They all responded in the negative.

Responding, Director of Public Prosecutions and the lead prosecutor in the case, Titilayo Shitta-Bey, requested an adjournment to enable the new defence counsel to get acquainted with the facts of the case.

She said: “We have three witnesses in court and the new counsel told me that they had just applied for the records of proceedings.

“I will be requesting for a short adjournment to enable the defence get acquainted with the case and also for the defendants that are not represented to engage counsel.”

While obliging the DPP, the judge said that a date during the court’s annual vacation would be assigned for the case.

Justice Oshodi adjourned the case until Sept. 11 for continuation of trial.